Commentary on 1Samuel Part 4 (No. F009iv)

This commentary covers part of the period of David’s persecution by Saul. Whilst Saul had his own reasons for the persecution the adversary had the greater context in picture; the destruction of the ‘Seed’ who would destroy him.

Appendix 23 of the Companion Bible by Bullinger covers this aspect. That there was a fall of the angels is certain from Jude 6.

· The nature of their fall is clearly stated in the same verse. They left their own oiketerion. This word occurs only in 2Cor. 5:2 and Jude 6, where it is used of the spiritual (or resurrection) body.

· The nature of their sin is stated to be "in like manner" to that of the subsequent sins of Sodom and Gomorrha, Jude 7.

· The time of their fall is given as having taken place "in the days of Noah" (1Pet. 3:20. 2Pet. 2:7), though there may have been a prior fall which caused the end of "the world that then was" (Gen. 1:1, 2. 2Pet. 3:6).

· For this sin they are "reserved unto judgment", 2Pet. 2:4, and are "in prison", 1Pet. 3:19.

· Their progeny, called Nephilim (translated "giants"), were monsters of iniquity; and, being superhuman in size and character, had to be destroyed (see Ap. 25). This was the one and only object of the Flood.

· Only Noah and his family had preserved their pedigree pure from Adam (Gen. 6:9, see note). All the rest had become "corrupt"(shachath) destroyed [as Adamites]. The only remedy was to destroy it (de facto), as it had become destroyed (de jure). (It is the same word in v. 17 as in vv. 11, 12.) See further under Ap. 25 on the Nephilim.

This irruption of fallen angels was Satan's first attempt to prevent the coming of the Seed of the woman foretold in Gen. 3:15. If this could be accomplished, God's Word would have failed, and Satan's own doom would be averted. As soon as it was made known that the Seed of the woman was to come through Abraham, there must have been another irruption, as recorded in Gen. 6:4, "and also after that" (i.e. after the days of Noah, more than 500 years after the first irruption). The aim of the enemy was to occupy Canaan in advance of Abraham, and so to contest its occupation by his seed. For, when Abraham entered Canaan, we read (Gen. 12:6) "the Canaanite was then (i.e. already) in the land." In the same chapter (Gen. 12:10-20) we see Satan's next attempt to interfere with Abraham's seed and frustrate the purpose of God that it should be in "Isaac." This attempt was repeated in 20:1-18.

This great conflict may be seen throughout the Bible, and it forms a great and important subject of Biblical study. In each case the human instrument had his own personal interest to serve, while Satan had his own great object in view. Hence God had, in each case, to interfere and avert the evil and the danger, of which his servants and people were wholly ignorant. The following assaults of the great Enemy stand out prominently: --

The destruction of the chosen family by famine, Gen. 50:20.
The destruction of the male line in Israel, Ex. 1:10, 15, &c. Cp. Ex. 2:5; Heb. 11:23.
The destruction of the whole nation in Pharaoh's pursuit, Ex. 14.
After David's line was singled out (2Sam. 7), that was the next selected for assault. Satan's first assault was in the union of Jehoram and Athaliah by Jehoshaphat, notwithstanding 2Chron. 17:1. Jehoram killed off all his brothers (2Chron. 21:4).
The Arabians slew all his children, except Ahaziah (2Chron. 21:17; 22:1).
When Ahaziah died, Athaliah killed "all the seed royal" (2Chron. 22:10). The babe Joash alone was rescued; and, for six years, the faithfulness of Jehovah's Word was at stake (2Chron. 23:3).
Hezekiah was childless, when a double assault was made by the King of Assyria and the King of Terrors (Isa. 36:1; 38:1). God's faithfulness was appealed to and relied on (Ps. 136).
In captivity, Haman was used to attempt the destruction of the whole nation of Judah (Est. 3:6, 12, 13. Cp. 6:1). Israel was already in captivity among the Celts by 722 BCE in Parthia, as part of that Empire.
Joseph's fear was worked on (Matt. 1:18-20). Notwithstanding the fact that he was "a just man", and kept the Law, he did not wish to have Mary stoned to death (Deut. 24:1); hence Joseph determined to divorce her. But God intervened: "Fear not"...

Herod sought the young Child's life (Matt. 2).
At the Temptation, "Cast Thyself down" was Satan's temptation.
At Nazareth, again (Luke 4) there was another attempt to cast him down and destroy him.
The two storms on the Lake were other attempts.
At length the stauros (stake) (not a cross) was reached, and the sepulchre closed; the watch set; and the stone sealed. But "God raised Him from the dead." And now, like another Joash, He is seated and expecting (Heb. 10:12, 13), hidden in the house of God on high; and the members of "the one body" are hidden there "in him" (Col. 3:1-3), like another Jehoshaba; and going forth to witness of his coming, like another Jehoiada (2Chron. 23:3).
The irruption of "the fallen angels" ("sons of God") was the first attempt; and was directed against the whole human race.

· When Abraham was called, he and his seed were attacked.

· When David was enthroned, then the royal line was attacked.

This aspect is also highlighted in the paper Rule of the Kings Part IV: Return of the King (No. 282E).

Introduction

We saw that during the reign of the prophet Samuel, Israel had requested a king, and God gave them a king. After Saul sinned God gave them David and sent Samuel to anoint him. In that line, in Judah, the kingdom was to remain until the Messiah and then, on his return, remain with him forever. His lineage is covered in the paper Genealogy of the Messiah (No. 119). He was to be killed, in atonement of man’s sins, and returned to the side of the Father until the time of Satan’s rule was completed and the 1260 days of the Witnesses were ended, and in order to save mankind from total destruction (Ps. 110:1f).

Chapter 19

Jonathan Intercedes for David

¹And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. ²And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore take heed to yourself in the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself; ³and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; and if I learn anything I will tell you.” ⁴And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; ⁵for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” ⁶And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” ⁷And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

Michal Helps David Escape from Saul

⁸And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and made a great slaughter among them, so that they fled before him. ⁹Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing the lyre. ¹⁰And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled, and escaped. ¹¹That night Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” ¹²So Michal let David down through the window; and he fled away and escaped. ¹³Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. ¹⁴And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” ¹⁵Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” ¹⁶And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head. ¹⁷Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go; why should I kill you?’”

David Joins Samuel in Ramah

¹⁸Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt at Naioth.¹⁹And it was told Saul, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.”²⁰Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. ²¹When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. ²²Then he himself went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu; and he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Nai′oth in Ramah.” ²³And he went fromthere to Nai′oth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied, until he came to Nai′oth in Ramah. ²⁴And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel, and lay naked all that day and all that night. Hence it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Intent of Chapter 19

From Rule of the Kings Part I: Saul (No. 282A)

19:1-7 Saul sought to kill David, but David had found favour in the eyes of Jonathan and, even though David was the rival to the kingship, Jonathan fought to spare David.

19:6-7 Jonathan succeeds in restraining his father temporarily.

19:8-19 This sparing of David worked together for the good and David then fought with Saul against the Philistines. Saul was troubled also by the demons, and in this text, it shows we are dealing with spirits that are still appearing before the Throne of God and acting with authority. This is reminiscent of the first section of the creation in the first forty jubilees from Adam to Abraham and through the flood under Noah.

19:8-10 Compare 18:10-11. The OARSV holds that the incident is in place here.

19:11-17 David was forced to flee

He was allowed escape using a pillow of goat's hair.

19:20-24 The Holy Spirit directs what is to happen. It is extended to the use of all involved, even to Saul, as well as the prophets, and both David and Saul were filled with the Spirit of Prophecy.

Chapter 20

The Friendship of David and Jonathan

¹Then David fled from Nai′oth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” ²And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” ³But David replied, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he thinks, ‘Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” ⁴Then said Jonathan to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” ⁵David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. ⁶If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’ ⁷If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him. ⁸Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, slay me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?” ⁹And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you?” ¹⁰Then said David to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?” ¹¹And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field. ¹²And Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? ¹³But should it please my father to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. ¹⁴If I am still alive, show me the loyal love of the Lord, that I may not die; ¹⁵and do not cut off your loyalty from my house for ever. When the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth, ¹⁶let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the house of David. And may the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.” ¹⁷And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. ¹⁸Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. ¹⁹And on the third day you will be greatly missed; then go to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside yonder stone heap. ²⁰And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. ²¹And behold, I will send the lad, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the lad, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. ²²But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go; for the Lord has sent you away. ²³And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me for ever.” ²⁴So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. ²⁵The king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall; Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. ²⁶Yet Saul did not say anything that day; for he thought, “Something has befallen him; he is not clean, surely he is not clean.” ²⁷But on the second day, the morrow after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” ²⁸Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem; ²⁹he said, ‘Let me go; for our family holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.” ³⁰Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? ³¹For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and fetch him to me, for he shall surely die.” ³²Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” ³³But Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; so Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. ³⁴And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. ³⁵In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little lad. ³⁶And he said to his lad, “Run and find the arrows which I shoot.” As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ³⁷And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” ³⁸And Jonathan called after the lad, “Hurry, make haste, stay not.” So Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. ³⁹But the lad knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter. ⁴⁰And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” ⁴¹And as soon as the lad had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times; and they kissed one another, and wept with one another, until David recovered himself. ⁴²Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, for ever.’” And he rose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

Intent of Chapter 20

From Rule of the Kings Part I: Saul (No. 282A)

20:1-42 This is an independent tradition of the break between Saul and David. Incompatible with all three sections of Chapter 19 (see OARSV n.). David is represented as still a member of the king’s household and Jonothan is portrayed as unaware of Saul’s hatred of David.

20:1 For this reason David could not lift his hand against the Lord’s Anointed. He was at first puzzled.

20:2-17 The rivalry that has existed in the Royal Houses of Israel is unnecessary and if all were as David and Jonathan, we would be at peace. More importantly the Churches of God would be at peace.

v. 5 The New Moon. The New Moon was a Holy Day and no trading was possible on the New Moons (Am. 8:5) and the New Moons will be restored in the millennial system under the Temple Calendar (No. 156) and they will be enforced on pain of death with the Sabbaths (Isa. 66:23-24) at the return of the Messiah and the Loyal Host. (Nos. 143F; 300A; 300B; 300C; 300D; 300E; 300F). All members of the Loyal Household were required to eat together. The Churches of God in both Sardis and Laodicea will be required to restore the Temple Calendar or be put to death.

v. 8 Sacred Covenant A reference to the bond between David and Jonathan.

20:18-41 In this next phase we also see the function of the calendar in operation ca 1000 BCE (cf. the papers God’s Calendar (No. 156) and The Moon and the New Year (No. 213)).

20:26 Some mishap could have caused temporary ritual uncleanness.

20:30 son of a perverse, rebellious woman,

= a son of rebellious perversity: i.e. a rebel like David. Compare note on 1 Samuel 18:19 . (Bullinger)

“your mother’s nakedness” is simply a Hebrew way to refer to a woman giving birth to a child.”

(See the expanded comment at Apologetics Press)

20:42 This covenant was to last and be honoured by David.

Chapter 21

David and the Holy Bread

¹Then came David to Nob to Ahim′elech the priest; and Ahim′elech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” ²And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. ³Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” ⁴And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread at hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.” ⁵And David answered the priest, “Of a truth women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are holy, even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their vessels be holy?” ⁶So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. ⁷Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; his name was Doeg the E′domite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen. ⁸And David said to Ahim′elech, “And have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” ⁹And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”

David Flees to Gath

¹⁰And David rose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. ¹¹And the servants of A′chish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” ¹²And David took these words to heart, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. ¹³So he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and made marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. ¹⁴Then said Achish to his servants, “Lo, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me? ¹⁵Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

Intent of Chapter 21

From Rule of the Kings Part I: Saul (No. 282A)

21:1-6 It was not lawful for David to eat the Shewbread, but it was given to him and the men because it also pointed towards the election of the household of David in the Church to become elohim (Zech. 12:8; Ps. 82:6).

21:7-15 The sword of Goliath

Also, we see here the weapons of his enemy were given to him to further the work of Israel. This also involved David feigning madness among the Philistines. It was then, because he was seen to be of no threat, that he was permitted to live and escape. In David’s eyes discretion was the better part of valour at this point. He first secured his family with the king of the Moabites. This was an easy arrangement as it placed Moab in favour with David if he should win. David had drawn every malcontent and debtor in the nation that could draw a sword. Saul was afraid of this and knew that even his own son did not agree with his treatment of David. Saul was afraid.

21:10-15 David flees to Gath The OARSV holds that this account is also from Ch. 27:11 being a Late Source account).

v. 11 The purpose of this account is to show that David and Achish had nothing to do with one another (Comp. Ch 27, where they got along quite well.).

v. 17 His own soul i.e. his own nephesh.

Chapter 22

David and His Followers at Adullam

¹David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. ²And every one who was in distress, and every one who was in debt, and every one who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. ³And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Pray let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” ⁴And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. ⁵Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed, and went into the forest of Hereth.

Saul Slaughters the Priests at Nob

⁶Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. ⁷And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjaminites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, ⁸that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, none of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” ⁹Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, ¹⁰and he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” ¹¹Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king. ¹²And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” ¹³And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” ¹⁴Then Ahim′elech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain overyour bodyguard, and honored in your house? ¹⁵is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father; for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” ¹⁶And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.” ¹⁷And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord. ¹⁸Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and fall upon the priests.” And Doeg the E′domite turned and fell upon the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. ¹⁹And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both men and women, children and sucklings, oxen, asses and sheep, he put to the sword. ²⁰But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahi′tub, named Abi′athar, escaped and fled after David. ²¹And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²²And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Do′eg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. ²³Stay with me, fear not; for he that seeks my life seeks your life; with me you shall be in safekeeping.”

Intent of Chapter 22

From Rule of the Kings Part I: Saul (No. 282A)

22:1-23 David at Adullam: Massacre at the priests of Nob. Adullam was a place Southwest of Bethlehem in David's home territory. David collects a retinue of malcontents from his native Judah (v. 2) (see also v. 19: 11-17).

22:1-8 In this way also the Edomite Doeg (Doug in our terms) saw a way to advance himself. He was set over the servants of Saul. Later the Edomites would be set over the whole house of Judah and come to corrupt its ways in the southern lands of Judea in the time of Christ. The priesthood was then punished for its assistance to David. They were sent into captivity in 70 CE with the destruction of the Temple in accordance with the Seventy weeks of years (Dan. Ch. 8).

22:9-23 Thus, the priesthood was committed to David by Edomite self-interest.

22:18 slew, thus partly fulfilling 2:31, 3:12, on Eli’s house. (Bullinger’s n.)

Chapter 23

David Saves the City of Keilah

¹Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.” ²Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” ³But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” ⁴Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” ⁵And David and his men went to Kei′lah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter among them. So David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. ⁶When Abi′athar the son of Ahim′elech fled to David to Kei′lah, he came down with an ephod in his hand. ⁷Now it was told Saul that David had come to Kei′lah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” ⁸And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. ⁹David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” ¹⁰Then said David, “O Lord, the God of Israel, thy servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. ¹¹Will the men of Kei′lah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” ¹²Then said David, “Will the men of Kei′lah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” ¹³Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Kei′lah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. ¹⁴And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

David Eludes Saul in the Wilderness

¹⁵And David was afraid becauseSaul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. ¹⁶And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose, and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. ¹⁷And he said to him, “Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; Saul my father also knows this.” ¹⁸And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. ¹⁹Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Does not David hide among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachi′lah, which is south of Jeshi′mon? ²⁰Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.” ²¹And Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord; for you have had compassion on me. ²²Go, make yet more sure; know and see the place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there; for it is told me that he is very cunning. ²³See therefore, and take note of all the lurking places where he hides, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” ²⁴And they arose, and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshi′mon. ²⁵And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told; therefore, he went down to the rock which is in the wilderness of Ma′on. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Ma′on. ²⁶Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was making haste to get away from Saul, as Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to capture them, ²⁷when a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Make haste and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.” ²⁸So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore, that place was called the Rock of Escape. ²⁹And David went up from there, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-ge′di.

Intent of Chapter 23

From Rule of the Kings Part I: Saul (No. 282A)

23:1-3 David as God’s instrument

David was mindful that he was anointed and set aside for the purpose of being king. He was in that sense the champion of Israel and duty bound to act to protect it.

23:4-13 The cowardice of David’s own tribe also was evident. This caused David to doubt his original instructions from the Lord.

23:14-29 Saul was more concerned with the murder of his son-in-law than with the safety of Israel.

It was Saul that should have acted against the Philistines and not left it to David. The town should have been grateful to David. Instead, they would have delivered David up to Saul. How much more powerful and dedicated to God would the kingdom have been if Saul had simply obeyed God.

23:14 Ziph is a rocky area south of Hebron. Every day in this context means constantly.

Hachilah and Jeshimon mean dark and desolate respectively.

23:24 Maon was little South of Ziph, Hachilah and Jeshimon (Comp. Josh. 15:55). Arabah means “desert” not the depression North and South of the Dead Sea.

Chapter 24

David Spares Saul’s Life

¹When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” ²Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. ³And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. ⁴And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe. ⁵And afterward David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. ⁶He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” ⁷So David persuaded his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way. ⁸Afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. ⁹And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your hurt’? ¹⁰Lo, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹¹See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. ¹²May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me upon you; but my hand shall not be against you. ¹³As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. ¹⁴After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! ¹⁵May the Lord therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see to it, and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand.” ¹⁶When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. ¹⁷He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. ¹⁸And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. ¹⁹For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. ²⁰And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. ²¹Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” ²²And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Intent of Chapter 24

From Rule of the Kings Part I: Saul (No. 282A)

24:1-22 Saul was convicted by David’s righteousness, and he knew God had let him fall into David’s hands. The preservation of the seed of Saul was also a serious matter, and David was to protect one of the House of Saul when he became king. Note the note on the linen ephod and also of the Ephod containing the urim and thum'mim of 21:9 and see 14:3; Ex. 28:30. (comp. vv. 9-10).

24:2 Wild Goats’ rocks most descriptive part of the Terrain.

v. 14 Dead dog. Dogs were held on low esteem in those days. A dead dog would be worthless.

see Rule of the Kings Part II: David (No. 282B)

David as King in Israel

We have seen how the kingdom was removed from Saul. We saw that the Lord’s Anointed was protected, and even though David was the Lord’s Anointed he would not raise his hand against the current Lord’s Anointed, even to rid himself of an adversary. There is thus a progressive sequence of the Lord’s Anointed that is not to be disrupted or usurped (see Ch. 26). This passage is held to conclude the Late source except for the death of Samuel 25:1 and 28:3.

See also the paper CB90 –Saul Tries to Kill David

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 19-24 (for KJV)

Chapter 19

Verse 2

until = in, or against.

Verse 3

what I see , &c. = " I shall see what [he replies] and shall tell thee". Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 .

Verse 4

sin . Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 5

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 9

evil . See note on 1 Samuel 16:16 .

spirit . Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 10

Saul sought . Note the nine attempts on David's life; three personally by Saul, and six by his messengers (nine being the number of judgment, App-10 ). See note on 1 Samuel 18:11 , and App-23 and App-25 .

even to , or, even [to pin him] to.

Verse 11

save not thy life = save not thy soul: i.e. deliver not thyself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 13

image = teraphim.

Verse 17

why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 19

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 20

company . Compare 1 Samuel 10:5 . 2Ki 2:3-5 ; 2 Kings 5:22 . College for instruction of prophets, priests having failed in their duty as teachers. Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 .

appointed over . Samuel the head here. Elisha in 2 Kings 2:15 .

God . Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 22

one . A special various reading (Sevir) reads "they". See App-34 .

Verse 23

thither. Septuagint reads "thence".

Verse 24

clothes : i.e. his robes, or armour, or both.

naked . Compare 1 Samuel 18:4 , i.e. stripped of outer garments.

Is Saul . . . ? Figure of speech Parcemia. App-6 .

Chapter 20

Verse 1

iniquity. Hebrew ` avah. App-44 . sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

my life = my soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . "Me" emphatic.

Verse 2

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 3

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

thy soul = thou. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

step = stride. Hebrew. pesa `. O cc. only here.

Verse 5

should not fail to sit . Septuagint reads "shall not sit". unto the third day at even. Septuagint reads "until the evening". Compare 1 Samuel 20:12 .

Verse 7

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

Verse 12

O LORD God of Israel . Syriac reads "Jehovah, God of Israel, [be] witness that I will sound", &c.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 13

as = according as.

Verse 15

the face of . Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .

Verse 16

made = solemnised.

Verse 17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again . Septuagint reads "And again Jonathan sware unto David". soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 19

when the business was in hand : i.e. the day when Jonathan arranged for David to overhear Saul's murderous intention (1 Samuel 19:2 , 1 Samuel 19:3 ), and when Jonathan devoted himself to the business of David's safety.

stone Ezel . Septuagint reads "the side of this mound".

Verse 24

meat. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of food.

Verse 26

not any thing : i.e. "nothing [concerning David's absence] that day ".

Verse 30

Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman = a son of rebellious perversity: i.e. a rebel like David. Compare note on 1 Samuel 18:19 .

Verse 31

shall surely die = the son of death: i.e. doomed to die.

Verse 40

artillery = weapons. Word extended from Latin. ars = art. The oldest art was ploughing, but the chief weapon in the art of war has usurped to itself this word.

Verse 41

out of a place toward the south . Sept, reads "from beside the mound": i, e. Ezel, in 1 Samuel 20:19 .

Chapter 21

Verse 1

Ahimelech . So called here and in 1 Samuel 22:9 , 1 Samuel 22:11 , 1 Samuel 22:14 , 1 Samuel 22:16 , 1 Samuel 22:20 . See note on 1 Samuel 14:3 and Mark 2:26 ,

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 4

common : i.e. or unhallowed.

hallowed = holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

kept . And thus ceremonially clean, to eat such bread.

Verse 5

vessels = wallets. Compare 1 Samuel 17:40 . Word not used in O.T. in the N.T. sense of 2 Timothy 2:21 . 1 Thessalonians 4:4 , &. c. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . Compare "hallowed", 1 Samuel 21:4 .

yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel = and the more so, when to-day [there are other loaves] to be hallowed in respect of their vessels,

Verse 6

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 7

detained , &c. Probably from some ceremonial reason. Compare "shut up "(Jeremiah 36:5 ), or a "vow "(Acts 21:23-27 ), or "uncleanness" (Leviticus 13:4 , Leviticus 13:11 , Leviticus 13:21 ).

Verse 9

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 10

for fear of Saul = from the face of Saul.

Verse 11

Is not this . Compare 1 Samuel 18:7 and 1 Samuel 29:5 .

did they not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare 1 Samuel 18:7 and 1 Samuel 29:5 .

Verse 12

Achish. See subscription of Psalms 55:0 (Comp. Bible). (Not superscription of Psalms 56:0 as in Authorized Version)

[ Conversion Note ]

Subscription of Psalms 55:0 reads: To the chief Musician ° upon ° Jonath-elem-rechokim.

Psalms 34:1 contains a reference to Achish (referenced in the original text below), and the author may have intended to reference it instead.

Verse 13

changed, &c. See Psalms 34:1

scrabbled on. Septuagint reads "struck against".

Verse 14

Lo . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

him = the man (1 Samuel 21:7 ).

Verse 15

Have I . . . ? shall this . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Chapter 22

Verse 1

Adullam. See Psalms 57:1

Verse 2

one = man. Hebrew. 'ish. . App-14 . discontented = bitter of soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . Compare Judges 18:25 , "angry": i.e. embittered.

captain = chief, leader, or prince.

men. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 3

come forth . Syriac and Vulgate read. "dwell". No Ellipsis then to be supplied.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 4

hold = stronghold, or fortified camp. First occurance.

Verse 6

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

now Saul . Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6 .

in Ramah . Or, in the high place.

Verse 8

is sorry for = taketh pity upon.

Verse 9

Then , &c.: verses: 1 Samuel 22:9-16 , by the Figure of speech Hysteresis ( App-6 ), give details not contained in former narration (21. i-9).

Verse 10

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 14

goeth at thy bidding : or, cometh near for audience. Septuagint reads "is captain over thy bodyguard".

Verse 15

Did I . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

nor. This word is read in the text of Septuagint and Syriac.

Verse 17

footmen = runners.

hand . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause) for the help given by it. App-6 .

when he fled = that he was fleeing.

Verse 18

slew . Thus partly fulfilling 1 Samuel 2:31 ; 1 Samuel 3:12 , on Eli's house.

persons . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 20

Abiathar, escaped. Saul thus caused the transfer of the High Priest, with the Urim and Thummim, to David.

Verse 22

I have occasioned , &c.: i.e. involved. A mark of David's characteristic tenderness.

all the persons = every soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13

Verse 23

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Chapter 23

Verse 1

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 2

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 3

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 4

hand . Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "hands".

Verse 6

fled. Compare 1 Samuel 22:20 . This verse is the Figure of speech Hysteresis. App-6 .

Verse 7

God . Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

delivered . Hebrew. nakar. A homonym. Compare Deuteronomy 32:27 , "behave strangely"; Job 34:19 , regard or acknowledge. Here = to deliver.

Verse 9

secretly practised = contrived.

Verse 11

men = masters, or lords. Hebrew. ba ' alim.

as = according as.

Verse 14

mountain = hill country.

Verse 15

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 18

covenant . Some codices, with two early printed editions, add "in a wood".

Verse 19

the Ziphites . See Psalms 51:1 .

Verse 20

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 22

prepare . Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "and prepare".

haunt = track, or trail.

Verse 23

take knowledge of = get to know.

Verse 24

the wilderness = a wild forest or park-like country. Carmel of Judah. Not Carmel of Manasseh.

Verse 25

seek him . Some codices, with one early printed edition (margin), read "seek David".

into a rock = from the rock.

Verse 26

Saul . Some codices, with one early printed edition (margin), add "and his men".

for fear of Saul = from the face of Saul.

Verse 28

Sela-hammahlekoth = the cliff of divisions or separations. Now Wady Malaky, where two forces could be inaccessible the one to the other, and yet within sight and hearing.

Chapter 24

Verse 1

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 2

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

his men . Hebrew 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 3

to cover his feet . Figure of speech Euphemism. App-6 . Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 :. to stoop, and so cause feet to be covered by the robe.

Verse 4

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . as = according as.

unto thee = in thine eyes.

skirt = corner, or wing.

Verse 5

Saul's skirt = the lappet of Saul's robe.

Verse 6

master . Hebrew. 'Adoni, my lord. App-4 .

Verse 9

men's . Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . evil. Hebrew. ra`a`. App-44 . transgression. Hebrew. pasha`. App-44 . sinned. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 . soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 13

Wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. reed'. See App-44 . Compare "evil", 1 Samuel 24:11 .

proceedeth . Figure of speech Paroemia.

Verse 14

a dead dog , &c. Figure of speech Meiosis. App-6 . flea. Hebrew a single flea.

Verse 15

deliver = judge, or justly deliver.

Verse 19

if . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 20

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 22

hold = stronghold.